Collapsible dore for forming hot top in ingot molds



H. BLESER 3,117,354

COLLAPSIBLE CORE FOR FORMING HOT TOP IN meow MOLDS Jan. 14, 1964 FiledMay 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HERIBERT BLESER FIG.6

ATT YS.

Jan. 14, 1964 H. BLESER 3,117,354

COLLAPSIBLE CORE FOR FORMING HOT TOP IN INGOT MOLDS vFiled May 29, 19622 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 A? /4 /3 a A? 9 I I //-11| I J1 J6 INVENTOR. I W34 /9ERIBERT BLESER FIG.5 6 H ATT YS.

United States Patent 3,117,354 CQLLAPSTBLE (CQRE FUR FURMING HQT Tilllhl KN G61" MQLDS Herihert Bleser, Oherhausen, Rhineiand, Germany,

assignor to Huttenwerli Qherhausen, Uherhausen,

Germany Filed May 29, 1962, Ser. No. 198,6tl6 Claims priority,application Germany June 23, 1961 4 Claims. (0. 22-9) Especially whenproducing cast steel ingots, the formation of cavities and segregationsin the ingot is reduced, as is known, by using so-called hoods or hottops. The hoods of ingot molds frequently consist of fire bricks, withwhich the upper part of the mold is built, and they may also be takenoff. Instead of fire bricks fireproof tampable material has recentlybeen used which is tamped down between the mold wall and a device forshaping a hood on the ingot mold, which device is removably positionedin the ingot mold and which serves as a master mold. Specifically, sucha device for producing hoods for casting or ingot molds is ko-wn, Whichconsists of chamber forming thin iron plates or segments which arefastened to a support, and which plates can be moved towards the wall ofthe ingot mold, and which are adjusted to engage the ingot mold wall. Bypressing down a bar, with joint-arms fastened axially towards the ingotmold these chamber forming iron plates are at the same time pressedtowards the inner wall of the ingot mold, so that the chamber isprovided which receives the tamped material. After the material has beentamped in and has become solid, the above-mentioned device for producingthe hoods on the ingot molds is folded up by lifting the axial bar andis pulled out. The molding iron plates are resiliently connected fromthe inside of the abovementioned device by chains, rubber, springs, andthe like in order that there is no play or space between individual ironplates. These above-mentioned devices are, however, not free fromdisadvantages, as for example, the complete structure, and, moreover,its handling are complicated. This is due, especially, because thedevices have a considerable number of delicate joints, not adapted tothe rough foundry work and are subject to troubles. Even slight twistsof the joint-arms or of the iron plates cause leakages through which,when the loose material is being tamped in, parts of the tamped materialget into the interior of the ingot mold, which causes the soiling of theingot mold and which makes a special frame with changeable feetnecessary, a frame, in which the axially movable bar is held. The settinup and the adjusting of the frame means detailed work.

The inventor made it his task to create a device for producing hoods foringot molds, and with which the hoods can be produced in the simplestway.

The invention provides a device for producing hoods for ingot molds, thedevice consisting of iron plates which are fastened to a support so thatthe plates can be moved toward the walls of the ingot mold, and whichplates are adjusted to the contour of the ingot mold. The invention isas follows: The support consists of a frame which can be put on the rimof the ingot mold and is essentially rectangular, and the iron platescan be moved in and out on the frame toward the walls of the ingot mold.

In particular the invention can be practiced in different ways. Forinstance, one embodiment of the invention is as follows: The iron platesare made in two half-hoods having integral flanges at their lower edgeswhich flanges engage the walls of the ingot mold. Also,side-closingwalls are used with the half hoods. According to thispreferred embodiment, the side-closing-walls are fastened to specialstand-bars, which are held in the rectangular frame, and so that theside-closing-walls can be moved in and out on the frame, and theside-closing-w alls also can be swung on the stand-bars.

The advantages achieved by this invention are to be seen in the factthat by this device hoods for ingot molds can be produced in thesimplest way, as will be explained by the drawings hereinafter, withrespect to the job that is to be done. Especially the handling of thedevice, according to the invention, is simple because the frame by whichthe iron plates are held has only to be put on the rim of the ingot moldto make the device ready for service. Additionally, the way of operatingthe device is simple and the device will stand up under the roughfoundry work because of its simplicity. The result is that the device ofthe invention excels because of its simplicity, increased securityagainst accidents, =and stability, as well as because it is less subjectto trouble. A special advantage is the fact that there are no jointswhich are complicated and subject to trouble.

In the following pages the invention is described more in detail withreference to drawings showing only one embodiment.

The drawings are as follows:

FIG. 1 shows a device for producing hoods for ingot molds according tothe invention, the drawing not showing an ingot mold, but illustratingthe device in the expanded position.

PEG. 2 shows the structure according to FIG. 1 but in the collapsedposition.

FIG. 3 shows a section on line AA through the structure of FIG. 1 withthe ingot mold shown.

FIG. 4 shows a section on line BB through the structure of FIG. 1, alsowith the ingot mold shown.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are top views of adjustable plates 5 and l.

The device shown in the [drawings is good for producing hoods for ingotmolds, and in its fundamental structure consists of a support with ironplates 1 fastened to it which plates can be moved towards the walls ofthe ingot mold and which are shaped and adjusted to the form of theingot mold. Specifically the support consists of a frame 2, which can beput on the rim of the ingot mold, which frame is essentiallyrectangular, and the iron plates 1 can be moved in and out towards thewalls of the ingot mold on this frame. In FIG. 2. the arrows indicatesuch movement in and out. The iron plates 1 are, as shown in thedrawing, two half-hoods, which have an inner sealing flange integralwith the lower edge of each plate, which flanges engage the walls of theingot mold and which flanges may, for example, be made by bending themout from the plate. Additionally, sideclosing w alls 5 are providedhaving sealing flanges 4, the walls 5 adjoining the half-hoods 1. Inorder to show these clearly one of the half-hoods l is broken away inFIGS. 1 and 2.. Thus, one can see that the side-closingwalls 5 in theexample shown are fastened to the special stand-bars, which are held bythe rectangular frame 2, and so that the walls can be moved in and outwith the stand-bars and :so that the walls can be swung or turned on thestand-bars around the axis thereof.

When the side closing walls 5 are moved in or collapsed, which is doneby pulling back the stand-bars 6, the stand-bars 6 fastened parallelside by side to effect an eccentric mounting automatically allow thewalls 5 to swing in around the taxes 7 which is effected by the pivotalfastening of the bars to the walls, with the walls being received in theinterior of the half-hoods, which can be then moved towards each other(see FIG. 2).

When expanded or moved out the self-closing walls have the positionshown in FIG. 1. The stand-bars 6 are for moving the side-closing-walls,and the bars are pulled in and out in the direction of the arrows 8.These standbars 6 are held in and moved on the frame 2 in eyes 9 ortubes or like elements carrying locking screws 13 which provide forfastening the stand-bars 6 when they are moved to outwardly expandedposition. In a similar way the half-hoods can be mounted for movement onthe frame 2 in the direction of the above-mentioned arrow 3 by means oftubes, eyes, or the like, and the half-hoods can be locked in positionby means of screws 14.

Thus, the device according to the invention can, as FIGS. 3 and 4indicate, be put in an ingot mold and can be expanded towards the wallsof the ingot mold thereby producing a chamber or space 12 which can befilled with the tamped material; after the material has been tamped andset it is easy to collapse or fold up the iron plates, so that thedevice can be lifted upwards out of the ingot mold so that it can beused again as desired.

The device according to the invention for producing hoods for ingotmolds can be further improved in that the half-hoods andside-closing-walls each can be composed of partial pieces which can befastened adjustably together from the inside with screws; thusalterations of the side length of all of the above-mentioned iron platesis possible to adapt the device to diiterent ingot mold sizes.

More specifically, FIG. shows plate 5 made as halves 5a and 5b havingoverlapping flanges 4a and 4b. A backing plate 56 is provided havingslots 5d and 5e through which extend thumb screws 17 and 18 received intapped holes in plates 5a and 51; respectively so that adjustment can bemade. Stand-bars 6 are pivotally secured to the center of backing plate50.

PEG. 6 shows plate 1 made in three parts, a central part in and two endparts lb and 1c having overlapping flanges 4a, 4b, and 4c. Thumb screws19' and 24) extend through holes in the ends of the central part in,through slots 21 and 22 and into nuts (not shown) so that adjustment asto length of the plate can be made. The plates for slidably receivingthe rods 2 are mounted on the central part la.

The adjustableness of the length of the iron plates 1 and 5 has thefurther advantage that if in case of need the inner walls of the ingotmold are worked on by being machined or the like so that themeasurements of the cavity of the ingot mold are changed, the device canstill be made to fit the cavity.

Therefore, it normally is suificient to provide only one standard sizeof the device according to the invention for a certain type of ingotmold, since this can in the simplest way be adjusted to the measurementprevailing at any given time of the cavity of the ingot mold.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus removably defining an endless horizontal molding chamber atthe upper end of an ingot mold cavity and including a frame adapted torest on the top of an ingot mold, two members of inverted half-box shapeslidably supported on the frame and movable from a collapsed positionadjacent to each other to an expanded position in chamber definingengagement with the ingot wall, plates for closing the end spacesbetween the members when in expanded position, bar means slidablyreceived in the frame and eccentrically and pivotally supporting theplates so that the plates automatically pivot upon operation of the barmeans from the chamber defining expanded position to relation parallelto said members in a collapsed position, means on the frame for lockingthe plates and members in the expanded position, and outwardly directedflange means along the bottom of the members and plates and engagingwith the ingot walls in sealing relation therewith and holding themembers and plates in endless chamber forming spaced relation with theingot walls.

2. In a device for assisting in forming a ring of insulating materialaround the upper inside of an ingot mold, the combination of a frameadaptable to extend over the top edges of the mold to provide support, afirst pair of iron plates positioned parallel to each other and slidablycarried by said frame, said plates being adjustable to the shape of theinside surface of the mold and movable from a collapsed positionadjacent to each other to an opposed spaced position in engagement withthe mold walls, a second pair of iron plates, bar means slidably andpivotally supporting the second pair of plates on the frame for movementto and from a collapsed position acutely inclined to the first pair ofplates to an expanded position in engagement with the mold walls and atright angles to the first pair of plates, the plane of all of saidplates being substantially vertical, outwardly directed flange means onthe bottom edges of said plates adapted to engage the inside surface ofthe mold when the device is expanded to provide together with the platesan endless chamber open at the top only into which loose hood forminginsulating material can be tamped.

3. A device according to claim 2, which is characterized by meansmounting each plate of the second pair of plates eccentrically androtatably on a separate bar of the bar means so that upon movement ofthe separate bars of the bar means the second pair of plates moveautomatically from a position acutely inclined to the first pair ofplates in a fully collapsed position to an essentially perpendicularrelation to the first pair of plates in the expanded position.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein each of the pair of platescomprises at least two partial pieces, means adjustably fastening thepieces together so that the length of the plates can be adjusted toconform to the inside measurements of the mold, and end means on thefirst pair of plates overlapping the second pair of plates with thedevice in expanded position to allow for further adjustment of thedevice to a particular mold size.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSl,24-4,937 Zagelmeyer Oct. 30', 1917 1,593,771 Linthwaite July 27, 19262,818,627 Blasius et a1. Jan. 7, 1958 3,077,646 Tigerschiold Feb. 19,1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 885,436 Great Britain Dec. 28, 1961

1. APPARATUS REMOVABLY DEFINING AN ENDLESS HORIZONTAL MOLDING CHAMBER ATTHE UPPER END OF AN INGOT MOLD CAVITY AND INCLUDING A FRAME ADAPTED TOREST ON THE TOP OF AN INGOT MOLD, TWO MEMBERS OF INVERTED HALF-BOX SHAPESLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON THE FRAME AND MOVABLE FROM A COLLAPSED POSITIONADJACENT TO EACH OTHER TO AN EXPANDED POSITION IN CHAMBER DEFININGENGAGEMENT WITH THE INGOT WALL, PLATES FOR CLOSING THE END SPACESBETWEEN THE MEMBERS WHEN IN EXPANDED POSITION, BAR MEANS SLIDABLYRECEIVED IN THE FRAME AND ECCENTRICALLY AND PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THEPLATES SO THAT THE PLATES AUTOMATICALLY PIVOT UPON OPERATION OF THE BARMEANS FROM THE CHAMBER DEFINING EXPANDED POSITION TO RELATION PARALLELTO SAID MEMBERS IN A COLLAPSED POSITION, MEANS ON THE FRAME FOR LOCKINGTHE PLATES AND MEMBERS IN THE EXPANDED POSITION, AND OUTWARDLY DIRECTEDFLANGE MEANS ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE MEMBERS AND PLATES AND ENGAGINGWITH THE INGOT WALLS IN SEALING RELATION THEREWITH AND HOLDING THEMEMBERS AND PLATES IN ENDLESS CHAMBER FORMING SPACED RELATION WITH THEINGOT WALLS.